Improvement in one-track railway-cars



D. B. JAMES. One-Track;a Railway-Car.

No. 208,738. Patented Oct. 8, 1878.

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@mM/f www ILPEYERS, PMOT0-L|THOGHAPHER. WASHINGTON D L UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

DAVID B. JAMES, OF VISALIA, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN ONE-TRACK RAILWAY-CARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 208,738, dated Octoberr2, 187:4; application lml June 11, 1879.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, DAVID Bron JAMES, ofVisalia, in the county of Tulare and State of California, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in the Construction of Cars, being animprovement on Patent No.176,864, granted to me May 2, 1876.

The following is the description of the improvement now claimed:

In carrying out this invention one line of broad-faced wheels is usedwith beveled ridges or flanges standing out from the center of the faceof the wheels, said ridges to drop into spaces between two rails oftimber of any desired size, that are fastened on ties and act as guidesto keep the wheels and cars upon the track, the hat surface of thewheels forming a base for the support of the car-bodies, which swing ontrnnnions in a line with the center ridges or flanges that are aroundthe periphery of the wheels. The essential advantage of this contrvanceis economy in the cost of cars, locomotives, and the cost of the track.Two rails of wood only are needed. It also offers no obstruction towagon-road crossings 5 and, further, the rails and track can be used forstreet-cars.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinalsectional elevation of my improved railway car-wheel and track. Fig. 2is a plan. Fig. 3 is an end view of the car with section of the track.

A A are the rails of wood, which can be shod with other wooden rails ot'less thickness or of iron.

B represents the ties. C represents the carrying-wheels of the car; D,the beveled ridges or nges for guiding the wheels and enabling them tokeep on the track, acting as a double iiange.

E represents the rolling or turning gear that allows the wheel to turnon any curve; G, the trunnions the car-body H swings upon. Thesetrunnions are supported upon the vertical posts I, secured to and risingfrom the truck-frame J, to which are also secured the frames K, in whichthe turning-gear of the wheels revolve.

In practice, it is found unnecessary to apply the turning-gear to morethan one of the wheels, the other being left to revolve continually inthe same plane relatively to the cartruck, as shown in the drawings.

By constructing the car and its truck in the manner above described thecost of permanent way, as well as that of the rolling-stock, is reducedto a minimum, while its capacity for carrying freight or passengersisequal to that ot' the narrow-gage roads constructed at much greatercost; and its peculiar construction enables curves of the shortestradius in use to be passed at a good speed in perfect safety.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent the following, to wit:

1. The double-tread wheel C, having a cent 1al beveled flange, D, incombination with the turning-frame E, supporting-frame K, andtruck-frame J, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. The swinging car H, in combination with the end supports, I,truck-frame J, and doubletread wheels C, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

DAVID RICE JAMES.

Witnesses:

T. M. MCNAMARA, SPIER JACKSON.

